Close the deal

What to do now

This step-by-step guide has tips for what to do and what to look out for before, at, and after closing.

Before you sign any papers, do a final walk-through of the home

Make sure everything that you and the seller agreed would be repaired has been repaired and anything the seller agreed to leave in the house is in place. If it isn’t, contact the seller immediately to discuss.

If this is your first time buying a home, or you're nervous about it for any reason, bring along a trusted advisor to the closing

Take your time

There are many documents involved in a real estate closing. Many are required by the lender, and some are required by state and federal law. Regardless of who requires a document, you have the right to take your time and review them all. Make sure the information on the closing documents is exactly what you're expecting.

If things look different than what you were told or than what your earlier paperwork said, ask questions.

What to know

Sometimes things change a little bit in the last few days before closing

For example, if the seller hasn’t fixed something they agreed to fix, there may be a change.

The seller may give you money to put towards your closing costs (known as seller credits) instead of trying to make the repair before closing.

If something important changes about your loan, you will receive a new Closing Disclosure

In limited circumstances, the law requires that you receive a full three business days to review the new Closing Disclosure before closing.

Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions

A mortgage loan is a big financial commitment, and you have a right to understand what you're signing up for. Don't sign a document until you're comfortable with what it says.

If the problem or confusion is about the terms and conditions of the sale, ask your real estate agent or settlement agent (title company, escrow officer, or attorney).

If the problem or confusion is about your loan, you’ll need to talk to your lender.

If the answers you get don’t add up, don’t be afraid to stop the closing. This is the most important moment in the transaction.

You are not committed until you have signed the closing documents

You can always walk away at closing if you are not comfortable with the transaction. You may lose any deposit that you gave the seller, and there may be other consequences from breaking your purchase contract. You may also lose any application or appraisal fees you gave the lender. Know what your contract says and what your choices are before you walk into the closing.

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How to avoid pitfalls

If there are significant differences between the paperwork you reviewed in advance and the paperwork you see at the closing table, don’t sign anything until you are comfortable with the transaction

Don’t be afraid to slow things down if you need to.

Ask questions. The best time to fix things is before all the documents are signed. Once everything is signed, if you discover anything that isn’t what you expected, you might have to hire an attorney to try to resolve the issue.

Don't eversign blank documents or documents that say something different from the transaction you've agreed to.

If the papers don’t reflect what you were told about the loan, that is a big danger sign.

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